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"Rourke makes the film: The Wrestler"

Â“The WrestlerÂ” is a tale of life, sacrifices one makes, mistakes one makes, choices and why. Perhaps, above all else, it is about how closely linked to our identities we are. Obviously Rourke had to lose more than a little of his ego to allow himself to be portrayed as such a broken battered man. He had to work hard to achieve the physical transformation and execute the stunts! However he is not being considered for an Oscar just for gaining 40 pounds and wrestling. He had to dig deep into his experience as an actor to bring Â“The WrestlerÂ” to life. The range of emotions that kaleidoscope across his face through the beautifully shot montage: home, bed, shower, car, gym--or the scenes with his daughter? All have Oscar written all over them. He WAS no Deniro-he's in that class now. Rourke brings us a person facing a dual mortality, that of his aging body and that of his spirit which together are Â“The WrestlerÂ” He is staple gun tough, but needs tenderness as much as anyone. Multi-dimensional characters like "The Wrestler" are meaty roles; Rourke met the challenge full on and makes it fanfriggintastic!

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153 out of 317 people found this review helpful.

Better than what you think

With a title like "The Wrestler" you'd think the plot was pretty simple, dumb but entertaining. Wrong. This is an emotional roller-coaster of everything you ever wanted to be, and were, then were not. And in trying to find out what went wrong 20 years leave you behind wondering what is left in life for you. While it may be wrestling, the drama is real, the emotion is real, and the hope you'll have for Randy "the Ram" Robinson is real. In Randy there are things we all can relate to. Hope. Fear. Pride. Go see it before having to wait for DVD or IFC to show it. Seeing Rourke's emotions play out on his face is more poignant on the big screen and leaves you wondering of what might have been.

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166 out of 332 people found this review helpful.